some interesting enamel dial watches to be auctioned soon

The two final auctions of the year will be held by Christies in Hong Kong (Nov 29) and and Antiquorum in New York (Dec 5)

A few enamel dial watches are worth having a closer look at in terms of rarity and execution

Christies Hong Kong Nov 29

Lot 2950 Audubon Birds of America: Launched in 1997 the Audubon Birds of America series consited of a series of 10 watches (made in 10 pieces each) with cloisonné enamel dials inspired by the works of naturalist JJ Audubon.

Estmated at HK$120,000 - 180,000 (US$15,000-23,000, €11,000-16,500)

Lot 2955 Mercator Japan dial: A platinum Mercator model made for the Japanese market and depicting an ancient map of Japan as drawn by Dutch cartographer Mercator in the late 17th century. It is a limited edition of 30 pieces.

Estimate HK$ 320,000 - HK$480,000 (US$40,000-60,000, €30,000-44,000)

Antiquorum New York Dec 5

Lot 204 Mercator North America: A platinum Mercator model made for the American market and depicting an ancient map of the US and inspired by the works of Dutch cartographer Mercator in the late 17th century. It is a limited edition of 10 pieces (probably the rarest of the Mercator models) Estimate: $25,000 - 30,000 (€17,000 - 20,000)

I respect and appreciate all the work that has gone into the dials, but I do not like them as part of a watch. Having said that, I am not anti-enamel - although I did not like in the "Alexander the Great" piece the sculpture, I really liked the enamel backgroung.

I much prefer the back to the front - the movement is beautifully finished!

Apart from Central America there is not much resemblance to North America, so perhaps the name "America" is put there for people to whom it is not immediately obvious that it depicts North and Central america as well as a little bit of S. America.

Furthermore the map has the names of Canada and the United States written more or less appropriately although I believe the actual map predates 1867 (year of Canadian Confederation) and 1776 (year of the American revolution) The 2 countries did not go under their respective present-day names until those years.